Nov/Dec 2021 TeeOff Newsletter

TeeOff News

November/December 2021

Rancho Del Rey Golf Course

Del Rio Country Club Valley Oaks Golf Course

Superintendent Candy Ortega

Michael Prouty, Superintendent

TEE-OFF News

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President’s Message Glenn Matthews, CGCS Cheers and Happy New Year!

We need your help! Our association is looking for leadership! Our annual elections are on the horizon and there are positions open for new board members. In the year to come I will be serving my third consecutive year as president of this amazing Glenn Matthews, CGCS organization. I wish it could go on forever, but I know an infusion of new blood is necessary to keep ideas fresh and to continue making progress as an organization. Therefore, I am calling on any and all interested parties to volunteer for board service.

In 2022 we have 2 capable superintendents filling out our officer positions, incoming Vice President Jose Alvarez, Fort Washington C.C., and Andy Cordova, Avila Beach G.C., our incoming Treasurer/Secretary. This will be Jose’s first time working through the officer positions and Andy is a seasoned veteran and past association President who has served multiple years in the presidential role for Central California. Their service to our association is invaluable and much appreciated, but we still need help to fill the 2022 board of directors.

Time commitment for board service really is very minimal. The board generally meets once a month via voice call for about an hour. In person meetings typically only happen for actual association events. So over the course of a year the time commitment is not great and there is no required travel. Having a full roster of board members is essential for conducting association business. Please consider contributing to your association. We need your help. Contact Kim Milne at the association office or reach out to a board member if you would be interested in serving.

We would love to see you at an upcoming association event. In January our annual meeting and elections will be the first opportunity of the year to gather. Details for that meeting are forthcoming, but we already have dates for a solid lineup of other meetings in 2022. We will be at Dragon Fly G.C. in April, the Al Glaze Scholarship Tournament will be at Stockdale C.C. in June, and the Trichapter event will be hosted by Northern California GCSA in August. Mark your calendars and make some time for your association.

See you on the green,

Glenn Matthews, CGCS

2021 GCSACC BOARD OF DIRECTORS

VICE PRESIDENT PAUL BARR SAN LUIS OBISPO C.C.

MICHAEL PROUTY VALLEY OAKS GOLF

JIM CULLEY SEED KING

PRESIDENT GLENN MATTHEWS, CGCS VISALIA COUNTRY CLUB

ALBERT NUNES MORRO BAY GOLF COURSE

ROB LOMELI RIDGECREEK G.C.

PAST PRESIDENT ANDY CORDOVA CYPRESS RIDGE GOLF COURSE

Executive Directors Irene Cline & Kimberly Milne Newsletter Editor Michael Scott, CGCS

SECRETARY/TREASURER JOSE ALVAREZ FORT WASHINGTON CC

CANDELERO ORTEGA RANCHO DEL REY G.C.

MATT GRAVES BELKORP

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Save The Dates 2022 January 24, 2022

Annual Election Mtg Valley Oaks Golf Course Hosted by Michael Prouty

Feb. 5-10 , 2022 GIS Conference San Diego February 9, 2022 California Room USS Midway

April 4, 2022 Dragon Fly Golf Course Hosted by Todd Najac

June 6, 2022 Al Glaze Memorial S & R Tournament Stockdale Golf& C.C. Hosted by Rob Lampson

2022 August 2, 2022 Tri Chapter Meeting & Tournament La Rinconada Country Club Hosted by Kevin Breen, CGCS

September 2022 We need a location

October 2022 Annual Charity Event Location to be confirmed

December 2022 Holiday Event Looking for a new venue

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From the Field

Jeff Jensen, GCSAA Field Staff, Southwest Region

Happy Holidays to our Central California GCSA members! I hope you all get a little time away from the course to spend with family and friends while enjoying some holiday festivities.

As we approach the New Year, the golf industry is facing some serious anti-golf legislation. California Assembly Bill 672, now referred to as the “Public Golf Endangerment Act” by the California golf community, was introduced by Assembly Member Christina Garcia (D-Bell Gardens) on Feb. 21, 2021. While the original bill was defeated in committee thanks to efforts of the California Alliance for Golf (CAG), it was recently revised and re-introduced.

Jeff Jensen

AB 672, upon appropriation by the Legislature, would require the Department of Housing and Community Development to administer a program to provide incentives ($50 million) in the form of grants to local governments that make publicly owned golf courses vulnerable to development into high density housing and commercial properties.

The bill is a direct attack on the municipal golf industry that makes up 22 percent of all golf facilities in California. As California has grown from 20 million residents in the late 1970’s to nearly 40 million today, the hunt for “higher and better” uses of open space is now front and center with a specific focus on golf courses.

While the golf industry recognizes the benefits of the game and particularly the benefits of preserving open space for future generations, 90 percent of the state’s population doesn’t engage in the game or recognize the many community benefits that it provides. Albeit a gross misperception, to them, the game represents a large use of land and natural resources that benefits only the privileged. It is a game that is seen largely as white, old, rich and elitist.

As CAG works in opposition to this bill, it will be critical to communicate with that population, as well as numerous environmental groups who may normally oppose golf, but have a common interest in preserving these green spaces often located in densely populated and park poor urban areas. Defeating AB 672 is going to take the combined efforts of the California golf industry. Work is already underway, and you can access the GCSAA Action Alert at to send a letter to your respective member of the California Legislature here: Public golf in California is under attack and we need your help!

As always, thank you for your support of GCSAA and Best Wishes for a Happy New Year. If I can be of assistance, please don’t hesitate to email me at jjensen@gcsaa.org and follow me on Twitter @GCSAA_SW for industry updates.

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In Memory of Michael Kropp It is with great sadness that we report the loss of Michael, Kropp. Michael was a member of our chapter for many years. Michael passed away on December 22, 2021 after a long battle with cancer. The family is preparing for his service and we will let the association members know when this is finalized.

Michael has been working for Wilbur Ellis Co., as director of professional markets. Prior to that he was the Regional Sales Representative for BASF for California and the Pacific Northwest.

He was well respected in the industry and will be greatly missed.

Michael is pictured here with his wife Mary Beth and their two sons.

Please keep the Kropp family in your prayers during this difficult time.

Golf Course Materials Topdressing Sand - Bunker Sand Decomposed Granite - Drain Rock 1/8” Minus Turf & Tee Bulk Humus Brush Removal Call for competitive rates

David Knott, Inc. (559) 449-8935 or (559) 760-5387

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N e w s l e t tT e rETE i tl eO F F

News

2021 Charity Event Ridge Creek G.C. Pictured at left is Rob Lomeli, host superintendent and the club pro Nate Below is Kevin Friesen and his team.

Pictured above is Mike Cline, Steve Showers, Michael Scott, and Andy Cordova.

At far left Irene Cline poses with Matt Graves, for a quick picture.

Below is the team with Tom Johnson, Randy Craven, Ralph Salcedo, Mark Gardner. They took 1st place Net.

Below is the 1st Place Gross team of Jose Alvarez, Roger Alvarez, Cameron Deleare, and Travis Falmay.

N e w s l e t t eT r T l e- O F F Ei tE

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Welcome New Members Jose Aguilar Class B Sunnyside Country Club Jesse Ferris Class B Zaca Creek Gary Preston Class C Zaca Creek Mike Brown Class A Zaca Creek & Catalina Golf & Tennis

News

Annual Meeting The annual association meeting will be held on January 24, 2022 at Valley Oaks Golf Course in Visalia. This is the first time in many years that we will have the opportunity to visit Valley Oaks and we want to THANK Michael Prouty, Superintendent for stepping up to hold this event.

We will holding our annual elections. Glenn Matthews, CGCS will be seeking another term as president. Jose Alvarez will be seeking the VP position, and Andy Cordova will be seeking the Sec/Treas slot. We have had a pretty large turnover in our board and are in need of several volunteers to fill vacant spots. We have Michael Prouty, Rob Lomeli, and Josh Heptig, CGCS that have stepped up but we need two additional members to throw their hats in the ring by January 24th. Please give us a call at the association office if you are interested in a position (559) 298-6262.

We will also need another affiliate representative to run for a two year term on the board.

We need your support so please consider the opportunity. We will be happy to answer any questions you may have and look forward to speaking with you.

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2021 Holiday Event Highlights Below Mike & Irene Cline, Irene announced her retirement and that she is handing the reigns over to Kimberly effective January 1st.

We were all happy to be back in Morro Bay for our Annual Holiday Party at Windows on the Water. The evening was great.

Pictured at left is Andy and Sarah Cordova. At right Kimberly and Taylor Milne.

A group of attendees were so happy to be together again they shared in a shot of their favorite beverage.

At right Andy and Mike hosted the White Elephant Gift Exchange. Once again it was a wonderful evening.

THANK YOU SPONSORS

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Government Relations California Air Resources Control Board passes rule on Small Off-Road Engines Bans manufacturing and sale of new gasoline-powered equipment under 25 horsepower by Jan. 1, 2024 The California Air Resources Control Board (CARB) passed a rule on Dec. 9, 2021, that will ban the manufacturing and sale of new gasoline-powered equipment under 25 horsepower in the state by Jan. 1, 2024. Portable generators, some pressure washers and select pieces of emergency equipment have been exempted until 2028.

The California Alliance for Golf (CAG), along with its partners in the manufacturing and sale of this equipment, opposed the rule citing that the current zero-emission equipment available to commercial users doesn’t meet the “fit for intended use” standard at the current time. It poses infrastructure and cost/performance issues, including limited battery life, charging challenges, durability/shelf-life problems, lack of maintenance support, and incapacity to complete large golf course maintenance and landscape tasks.

CAG requested that CARB work with manufacturers, green associations, and retailers to maintain the 2024 end of sale date for zero emission residential Small Off-Road Engines (SORE) but consider extending the time period to transition to zero emission “commercial/professional grade” equipment beyond 2024 to the degree to which fears about the commercial unavailability of equipment fit for intended use were borne out.

While the manufacturing and sale of this equipment is banned starting Jan. 1, 2024, as an operator/end user there are a few important points to emphasize:

The regulation is not a ban on use. You do not have to give up or stop using the 25 and under horsepower gasoline equipment you currently own or purchase before Jan. 1, 2024. You can continue to use it even after the new rule takes effect. This also applies to used equipment purchased in the future.

The rule does not apply to any equipment over 25 horsepower or any diesel-powered equipment.

The phaseout won’t be instantaneous. Manufacturers will be permitted to meet emission standards using credits earned under previous rule which could extend the manufacture/sales of products for a certain amount of time.

A $30 million rebate program will be available to assist in the cost of transition to zero-emission equipment.

CARB and California legislators have indicated that more dollars for the rebate program will be discussed.

More information on the ruling is available on the CARB website at https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/news/carb-approvesupdated-regulations-requiring-most-new-small-road-engines-be-zero-emission-2024 and we will keep you informed as new updates are provided.

Official Publication of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of Central California.

The purpose of this publication is information and education for the membership.

Published bi-monthly by GCSACC, 3273 Richert, Clovis, CA 93619 Phone (559) 298-6262 Fax (559) 298-6957 Email gcsacc@aol.com Newsletter Chairman & Newsletter Editor Michael Scott, CGCS Executive Director Kimberly Milne